Headlight-controlling apparatus



Jan. l8, 1929.

J. E. HOFFMAN HEADLIGHT CONTROLLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheetl ly Filed May l2, 1927 v I :f l

Patented Jan. 8, 1929. f v Y y.

unirsestares satana i Y *KfJoHNHorrrfiAn orio-Asma, wxoivti:ri-ev.,` HEADLIGH'r-conrnotnme APPARATUS. I

Application med May i2, 1927. semi no. 190,954.

y with respect tofthe vehicle.

This invention relates to and has fOrzone of its objects. to provide a novel, simple4 andV inexpensivev apparatus whichy shall be adapted to placethe'headlights ofan automobile under the controlof the. steering mechanismy so as to insure theirpointing in the direc? tion of travel of the vehicle and which shall` be adapted to permit the headlights to be readily disconnected from the steering mechanismI and secured against movement v With the foregoing and iotherobjects in view, the nature ,of which will become apparent as the description proceeds, theinvention consists of theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the application of the headlight controlling apparatus,

Figure 2 is a sectional viewtaken on the horizontal plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1, v

Figure 3 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of one of the headlights and part of the controlling apparatus therefor, f

` Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a' sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 5 5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the horizontal plane indicated by the line 6--6V of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is a sectional view vtaken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 7-7 of,

Figure 1, and

i several views of which like referencevchar-V acters Vdenote like parts, 1 designates the front axle, 2 the steering knuckles, and 3 the drag link of an automobile. 4 designates the radiator, 5 thefront fenders, and6 theV headlights of the automobile.

Inl accordance with my invention, theV headlights 6 are mounted upon the automobile for rotation about vertical axes, and

they are connected to the drag link 3 so as to place them under the control of the steer-l ing mechanism of the automobile, whereby to insure their pointing in the direction of travel of' the automobile. Y The headlights 6- are providedvwithstems 7. which are fro.`

tatably mounted in bearing sleeves 8 secured to the automobile by brackets 9. The stems 7 are provided withv lower forked ends 10 `which extend below the bearing.sleevesv 8L llhe stems 7 arepprovided ywith radial openings 11 which register with radial openings 12in the frontsides ofthe bearing sleeves 8 and with the upper ends of axiall slots 13`in the rear sides of the bearing sleeves. Arms vided with a rearwardly offset central portion, is pivotally connected at itsv ends to the lower vends of the levers 15. The levers 15 are retained on the arms 14 by nuts 17, and the connecting bar 16 is connected to the levers by bolts 18. Springs 19 are mounted upon the bolts 18 between the levers 15 and connecting bar 16. The connecting bar 16 is provided centrally between its ends with a depending stem 20 which is slidably androtatably associated with a bearing sleeve 21 secured to the drag link 3 by aclamp 22.

The stems 7 are connected to the levers 15l 25; The arms 24 are provided with Iears 26 which are positioned in the slots 10 of the stems 7 and are provided with slots 27 arrangedparallel to the arms. Pins 28 carried by the stems 7 and passing through the slots 27 pivotally connect the latches to the stems. The arms 25 are provided withhooks 29 and are positioned in vertical slots 30 formed in the leversv15.

As the headlights 6 are mounted for movement about vertical axes, as the'levers 15 are pivotally mounted and connected to the headlights, and as the connectingbar 16 is securedjtothev levers and tothe drag link 3, the headlightsare so connected to the Vsteering mechanism of the automobile that they are'under the control of such mechanism and will point in the direction in which the automobile is traveling. VWhen itv is desired to disconnect the headlights 6 from the steering mechanism of the automobile, and secure them against turning movement, the latches 23 are swung out'of engagement with the levers 15 into engagement with the stems 7 andbearing sleeves 8. vWhen the latches 23 are in engagement with the stems V more, the said drawings are illustrative of bearing sleeve, a lever adapted forropera.-

a preferred constructiomit being my expectation thatkvarious changes and modifications may 4be made without departing from the spirit 'and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is.:

. yl. In combination, a relatively Xed bear-V ing sleeve to be applied to an automobile, a headlighte'mounting stem `journaled in said tionby steering mechanism, a latch pivotal- 1y and slidably connected to said stem, said lever having a slot into which saidv latchis adapted to project to connect the parts for dirigible operation, and said sleeve andstem having slots into which the latch is adapted Vto extend when a` headlight vis to remain stationary.

2. In combination,a bearing sleeve adapted to be fixed to an automobile, a stem journaled insaid sleeve and adapted to carry a headlight, said sleeve extending below the bearing, a, latch having an elongated slot, a pivot element on'the sleeve below the bearing passing through said slot to pivotally and slidably connect the latch thereto, said latch having an angularly related arm there on provided with a hook, a lever adapted forv vconnection to rsteering mechanism and pro vided with a slot, said slotpreceiving said arm Vwhen a headlight Vis to ber dirigibly operated, said sleeve having a slot and said post having a slot adapted to aline therewith, and said latch being shiftable to vcause said arm and hook to engage the last mentioned slot.V

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

JOI-IN E. HOFFMAN',I 

